Asked on a news interview about the creation of his Samsara scent, he replied: “I worked like a nigger. I don’t know if niggers have always worked like that, but anyway.”

He told the court he deeply regretted the “imbecilic” remarks, saying the phrase was something he heard as a child while working in his grandfather’s garden, and was at that time acceptable. “I’m from another generation,” he said, adding that by suggesting that black people never actually worked that hard he was attempting to make a joke.

Guerlain said he was “anything but racist” and African American soldiers in France during the second world war had introduced him to chewing gum and Coca-Cola.

France’s Movement Against Racism and for Friendship (Mrap) had said his remarks revealed “the state of ordinary racism that still permeates French society”.

The law suit was brought by Mrap and several other campaign groups. Guerlain faces a maximum six months in prison and €22,500 (£18,900) fine. Judges will deliver a verdict at a later date.